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We are Nesta, the research and innovation foundation. linktr.ee/Nesta_uk

We apply our deep expertise in applied methods to design, test and scale solutions across the innovation lifecycle.

26/06/2026

A year ago, the government set out a ‘moonshot’ to end the obesity epidemic in the 10 Year Health Plan for England. However, successive governments have announced almost 700 initiatives to tackle obesity in the last 30 years - in that time, rates have doubled.

So why has nothing worked and what would it actually take to turn the tide?

In the latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast, host Joe Owen sits down with health policy expert Dr Dolly van Tulleken and Hugo Harper, director of Nesta’s healthy life mission, to debate the structural changes that can actually move the dial - such as mandatory targets for supermarkets. We think this could reduce obesity by around 20%.

Together, they unpack the food environment that shapes what we eat and look at what the evidence really says works.

In each episode of Policy Fix, we take a policy problem and look at the solutions for fixing it.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

🎧 Like the Policy Fix podcast? Subscribe, rate and review.

24/06/2026

Could a second referendum on Europe do more harm than good?

In the latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast, Professor Anand Menon, director at UK in a Changing Europe, breaks down what a second referendum might look like in practice.

In each episode of the Policy Fix, we look at a unique policy challenge and what it takes to fix it. Find out the true economic cost of Brexit and whether rejoining is the right choice for Britain in the latest episode.

🎥 Watch the full conversation with Anand, Tim Leunig and host Joe Owen: https://bit.ly/4oiAaqR

🎧 Subscribe, share and rate.

23/06/2026

Here's why the EU is hardlined on a non-member deal for the UK ⤵️

On the latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast, Professor Anand Menon breaks down the strategic challenge behind an EU and UK trade deal.

The conversation covers free movement and the single market, the customs union, the politics of immigration and cost of living, why the EU has little incentive to make life easy for the UK, and whether rejoining is realistic given the current political climate.

🎥 Watch the full conversation on YouTube ➡️ https://bit.ly/4oiAaqR

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19/06/2026

Is the UK running out of realistic options on Europe?

In this episode of the Policy Fix podcast, Professor Anand Menon, director at UK in a Changing Europe, explains why our actual menu of choices is narrowing fast.

Anand joins Nesta's Tim Leunig and host Joe Owen to discuss the future of EU-UK relations and the economic cost of Brexit.

🎥 Watch the full conversation on YouTube ➡️ https://bit.ly/4oiAaqR

🎧 Subscribe, share and rate.

18/06/2026

From an economics perspective, the right model is to rejoin the EU, says Nesta's Tim Leunig. But to what extent is Brexit a purely economic issue, versus a deeper debate over British sovereignty?

Tim joins UK in a Changing Europe's director, Anand Menon, and host Joe Owen to discuss the future of EU-UK relations and the economic cost of Brexit in the latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast.

🎥 Watch the full conversation on YouTube ➡️ https://bit.ly/4oiAaqR

🎧 Subscribe, share, and rate.

16/06/2026

Is a social media ban the best way to keep children safe online?

With yesterday's announcement of a social media ban for under-16s, the debate over online regulation has never been more urgent. But is a straightforward ban the right move, or should policymakers be looking at more innovative alternatives?

🎙️ We were joined by Nesta's Tony Curzon Price and Demos' Hannah Perry to explore this issue on the Policy Fix podcast.

The conversation digs into what policymakers should do about social media and its effect on children, weighing up the benefits and limitations of radical intervention such as a blanket social media ban as seen in Australia, and the alternatives that should be on the table.

🎧 Watch the full episode on Youtube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. https://bit.ly/4erFNOT

15/06/2026

A UK ban on social media for under 16s is officially on the table - but is it really the best solution for children's online safety?

We were joined by digital policy expert Hannah Perry (Demos) and Nesta's Tony Curzon Price to dig into what policymakers should do about social media and its effect on children, on a recent episode of the Policy Fix podcast 🎙️

Our guests weigh the merits of radical intervention alongside regulatory and policy options with host Joe Owen.

Listen to the conversation to explore why legislation has so far failed to keep pace, whether a social media ban will be truly effective, and whether, instead of just banning social media, we need to build it better.

🎥 Watch the full episode of the Policy Fix ➡️ https://bit.ly/4dE1zjP

🎧 Rate, review and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

13/06/2026

How Ireland has gained from Brexit - and why they would drive a hard bargain ⤵️

In our latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast, we're exploring the UK's place in Europe with guests Professor Anand Menon, director at UK in a Changing Europe and Nesta's Tim Leunig.

While the UK remains outside the single market for goods, Ireland has seen a significant boost in manufacturing exports due to post-Brexit trade diversion. This economic shift creates a new policy challenge for any future UK-EU negotiations.

Listen to the latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast hosted by Joseph Owen to learn more about the future of UK-EU relations and the economic impact of Brexit.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube ➡️ https://bit.ly/4oiAaqR

🎧 Subscribe, share and rate wherever you get your podcasts.

10/06/2026

What is Brexit truly costing the UK economy? 🇪🇺

According to academic research, being outside the EU is costing us 6% to 8% of GDP. Even if we take the lowest estimate, that amounts to a staggering £180 billion a year- or roughly half a billion pounds a week.

The latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast is out now. Guests Tim Leunig and Anand Menon join host Joseph Owen to untangle the real-world policy trade-offs and explore whether rejoining is realistic given the current political climate.

🎙️ In each episode of the Policy Fix, we take a policy problem and look at the solutions for fixing it. We look at the challenge, what works and how to make change happen.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube ➡️ https://bit.ly/4oiAaqR

🎧 Subscribe, share and rate wherever you get your podcasts.

07/06/2026

When we talk about artificial intelligence in public services, we tend to focus on the flashy capabilities. But the real AI opportunity is actually a second chance to go back and fix the foundations.

In this episode of the Policy Fix podcast, Mallory Durran explains why previous digital transformation programmes fell short. The key to unlocking AI isn't just newer technology; it’s finally getting the "boring stuff" right.

Watch the full conversation about effective public sector AI adoption on YouTube ➡️ https://bit.ly/4dAIHk1

Subscribe, share and rate wherever you get your podcasts🎧

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